Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leaves Converse and Officially Joins Nike Basketball
PublishedQuick Facts
- After a mysterious post on SGA's Instagram story, Nike confirmed his migration to The Swoosh
- He'll be joining as a signature athlete to continue his line
- A release date for his Nike silhouette has yet to be announced
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There’s been a thunderous shift in the sneaker landscape. After six years with Converse, back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making the move to Nike. After a cryptic tease on his Instagram story, Nike confirmed that the Thunder’s superstar guard would be joining The Swoosh as a signature athlete.
"We are thrilled to welcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Nike Basketball signature family," Nike confirmed in a statement. "Coming after back-to-back MVP seasons, we are excited to build on Shai's incredible impact with Converse as one of the most creative leaders in the game."
Athlete’s Swapping Shoe Brands
Star athletes shifting subsidiary brands isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is still an incredibly rare occurrence. In fact, Dwyane Wade made a similar switch from Converse to Jordan in 2009 before introducing the Air Jordan 2010. Most recently, Jayson Tatum jumped from Nike to Jordan Brand in 2019 before becoming one of the Jumpman’s signature stars. SGA was also one of the few who swapped intrabrand, leaving his Nike deal that he signed ahead of the 2018 NBA draft in 2020 to join Converse.
Shai’s History with Converse
Back in 2024, SGA signed a multi-year extension with the One Star that positioned him as the Creative Director of basketball operations. His signature shoe, the Shai 001, was unveiled soon after in February 2025 during the All-Star weekend.
Since joining Converse back in 2020, SGA has cemented himself as one of the top players in the league. Earning multiple All-Star nods, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP, and an NBA title while under the One Star umbrella.
When Will Shai Reveal his Nike Shoe?
As of now, there is no timeline for when Shai’s Nike shoe will be unveiled, but the addition of SGA serves as a boon to Nike. With WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark teasing her first signature shoe and slyly announcing a release date, and now Shai joining the family, Nike could be on the verge of a new wave of energy around its signature athletes.
Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay up on all the updates and release info for SGA’s foray into Nike.
Devin Robertson is a writer and sneakerhead from Memphis, TN. Outside of sneakers, he enjoys film, comics, and music.
